Leicester say top defender is staying with them...
HARRY Maguire must remain at the King Power, according to Leicester boss Claude Puel amid interest from United.
The England defender is now a top transfer target for Jose Mourinho and the United boss is urging Ed Woodward to seal a £65m bid for the centre back.
Leicester are reluctant to see the 25-year-old leave this summer and are reportedly ready to offer him an extra £75,000 a week in order to commit his future to the Foxes, and Puel believes the England international is happy at Leicester and should stay put at the club.
“It is important for Maguire to continue for Leicester,” Puel told Sky Sports News.
“It is a good feeling. If our players are interesting a lot of clubs it is because we are recruiting well and doing good work. It is important we continue this.
“When we welcome players back from the World Cup, I hope we can give them the opportunity to continue advancing their ambitions and perform in the Premier League.”
Mourinho is hoping to improve his back line before the close of the transfer window on August 9 and hopes the lure of Old Trafford and the chance to play in the Champions League will persuade the 25-year-old to move.
But Puel thinks Maguire is happy where he is.
“I think Harry’s happy here,” the Leicester boss added.
“He’s had a good World Cup. He won’t think about things too much. I think he’ll come back and continue.
“You can tell by the way he plays he is a relaxed player who gets his head down and gets the work done.
“He performs on the pitch and is a great player to have in the changing room.” JOSE Mourinho has predicted United target Harry Maguire could play for Leicester in their season opener at Old Trafford.
United are interested in Leicester centre half Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld as they attempt to reinforce their squad for the start of the Premier League campaign.
Leicester visit Old Trafford for the season opener on August 10, a day after the Premier League transfer window closes.
While discussing United’s likely absentees for that fixture, Mourinho explained why Maguire could be available for the Foxes after recovering from his World Cup exploits with England.
“The first match of the season is against Leicester and the second one is against Brighton,” Mourinho said. “And I look to Leicester, if I’m not wrong, only Maguire and Vardy were in the World Cup in the final phase, because Schmeichel was back sooner.
“So I think a team working for six weeks minimum with all the players, except one central defender and one striker that can join in the last weekend and probably be available.
“Is clear it’s a much better situation for them.
“When I look Brighton, I don’t think they have any player that isn’t doing a very good pre-season with lots of training and matches. So against Leicester and Brighton the situation is not amazing for us.
“I would say third match, playing against a team [Tottenham] in a similar situation as us, after three weeks is okay, is almost like you need a pre-season to with them but for the first two matches we have to fight for the points, so that is what we are going to do with the players available.” United have signed Diogo Dalot, Fred and Lee Grant this summer but are working on two more deals. Mourinho was asked whether he felt United had a strong enough squad to challenge for the league without any more additions and replied: “I don’t answer to your question.” A reporter also asked if Mourinho was getting what he wants. “No,” he responded. “I got the facilities as always, I got the incredible commitment of the people that is involved in the process of preparing a good preseason, I am happy with the matches, the evolution of the matches. “But I don’t have the players to work, I don’t have the majority of the players that are going to be in the squad on August 9 when the market closes and we can make the squad official for the season, so of course I’m not happy to have just a few players.” Jose Mourinho